Walking Pembrokeshire

Stepaside Ironworks Circular

It's good to walk, so why not step out and sample some of the walks your neighbourhood has to offer. This walk which starts and finishes at the Stepaside Ironworks car park is one of a number of town and country walks which have been produced by Pembrokeshire County Council. 

This short walk takes in the historic industrial sites of Stepaside Ironworks and Grove Colliery. It links with the Miners Walk  - both long and short versions - as well as the Stepaside to Saundersfoot Walk. All four walks offer a fascinating glimpse into Pembrokeshire's industrial past as well as beautiful views of the local landscape.

Additionally, long sections of all these walks utilise the new multi-user path, a path which is accessible to walkers of all ages and abilities. 

South Pembrokeshire once had a thriving coal and iron industry of which little evidence remains today but Stepaside Ironworks and the nearby Grove Colliery have been superbly restored to afford the visitor a glimpse into this rich heritage.

This short walk takes you around these two sites as well as offering splendid views of the local landscape.

It also links with two other web walks. From Stepaside Ironworks you can walk down the new multi-user path to the coast at Wiseman's Bridge and along, via a disused railway line, to the port of Saundersfoot, from where the coal and iron was exported.

Additonally, this walk links, via beautiful country lanes, with the Miners Walk (long and short versions) which begin in the nearby village of Kilgetty. Several sections of these walks utilise the multi-user path and are therefore suitable for all ages and abilities - there are plenty of pick and mix options that do not involve full hiking gear!

Walking: The walk begins and ends at the Stepaside Ironworks free car park.
Bus: 350 Tenby-Amroth-Tenby (Summer Sundays only) and 351 Tenby-Pendine Bus Timetables
Train: Nearest station is at Kilgetty. Arriva Trains Wales
Road Map: www.multimap.com. Search for "Stepaside, Pembrokeshire".
Parking: There is a free car park at Stepaside Ironworks , where the walk begins and ends.
Toilets: There are public toilets in Kilgetty.
Refreshments: Kilgetty village has a number of shops, cafés and a public house.

Start/Finish: Stepaside Ironworks free car park.
Distance: 1.1 miles, 1 hour
Terrain: This is a short walk over tarmac, multi-user path, gravel and grassy paths - the latter are quite steep.
Stiles: 2
Gates: 1
Steps: 85
Bridges: 2
Views: several
Car Park: 1

• Stepaside Ironworks (1) is on your right a short walk southwards from the large free car park. An information board gives details of the history of the site.
• After admiring the archaeology, cross the bridge opposite the site and turn right onto the multi-user path (2). This path continues on to Wiseman's Bridge and Saundersfoot.
• For this walk though, after travelling a short distance, turn right again, and walk past the children's play area and across a bridge from where there are lovely views across water meadows down the valley.
• Continue following the waymarked path as it rises steeply into the wooded hillside. Where the path forks (4), take the left hand option and continue uphill until you climb a stile onto a narrow country lane.
• There are panoramic landscape views from here with, on fine days (as they nearly always are in Pembrokeshire!), the sea visible glistening in the distance to the south
• If you wish to link with the Miners Walk, turn right onto the lane here (6), then right again a short distance along onto another lane and follow it into the village of Kilgetty - the Miners Walk begins and ends at the Community Centre there.
• However, to continue on this short circular walk, retrace your steps downhill until you reach the waymarked fork where you turned left earlier.
• Turn left here and immediately on your left are the restored remains of Grove Colliery (7). There is an information board here too.
• After exploring the ruins, continue on the easy gravel path through picturesque woodland (ignoring steps on your right) until you find yourself on a fenced platform above the Ironworks itself.
• There are more good views here as well as the opportunity to study how these buildings were constructed (8).
• Continue on this path until you see some buildings ahead of you. Turn right before them and a gentle slope takes you back to the car park which will be seen a short distance away.